Warm Springs Medical Center Named ‘Hospital of the Year’ By Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals

Warm
Springs Medical Center (formerly Baptist Meriwether
Hospital) in Warm Springs was named "Hospital
of the Year" at
the Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals’ annual meeting
on Oct. 23 at Callaway Gardens. Warm Springs Medical Center won the honor
in the small hospital category (150 beds or less).

Warm Springs Medical Center received the award for supporting direct
patient care through improving access for indigent populations,
displaying innovation and high quality in the range of services
offered, and demonstrating support from the local community.

"Warm Springs Medical Center is an excellent facility providing
outstanding care to the residents of Warm Springs and its surrounding
communities," said Alliance President Monty Veazey. "The
changes they have made to improve the hospital and the services
it provides are remarkable. Warm Springs Medical Center, and everyone
associated with it, is well deserving of this honor."

The 38-bed Warm Springs Medical Center recently completed a
$6.7 million renovation and 8,500 square-foot addition complete
with a new emergency department, an obstetric department with
birthing suites, a diagnostic imaging center, a modern admitting
department, a state-of-the-art surgical suite, private bathrooms
for each patient room and a renovated lobby with a chapel.

New equipment and services include a CT scanner, respiratory
therapy department, expanded lab services and 24-hour expanded
physician coverage. The hospital has also recruited many new
specialists to serve its community including a pediatrician,
internist/gastroenterologist, OB gynecologist and full-time general
surgeon.

In addition to the award, the hospital received a $1,500 cash
prize from awards-sponsor Hayslett Sorrel LLC, the Atlanta-based
public relations firm that serves the Alliance and many of its
member hospitals.

Representatives from the Florida Hospital Association judged
this year’s awards.

The Georgia Alliance of Community Hospitals works for the best
interests of community not-for-profit hospitals and Georgia's
health care consumers. Its mission is to foster goodwill among
community health care professionals; to advocate the enactment
of sound laws, rules and regulations affecting community hospitals;
to conduct and disseminate research and to share ideas that improve
the health care delivery system in Georgia.